Brittney Griner

The U.S. has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony ...

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After months of internal debate, the Biden administration has offered to exchange Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms trafficker serving a 25-year US ...

We start all of these with somebody who has taken a human being American and treated them as a bargaining chip," the official said. Biden officials had been concerned the decision to swap Reed for Yaroshenko would be criticized by Republicans. Instead, it won bipartisan praise, including from a handful of Republicans who are normally sharp critics of the administration. The US government has long resisted prisoner swaps, claiming concerns that they only incentivize countries to detain Americans so they can be used as bargaining chips. They said it was in Russia's "court to be responsive to it, yet at the same time that does not leave us passive, as we continue to communicate the offer at very senior levels." These sources told CNN that the plan to trade Bout for Whelan and Griner received the backing of President Joe Biden after being under discussion since earlier this year. We start all negotiations to bring home Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained with a bad actor on the other side.

The offer also seeks return of US executive Paul Whelan and is a reversal of previous US policy resisting such deals.

The Biden administration has been hounded with political pressure to bring home Griner and other Americans designated as unjustly detained. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. Blinken said he had requested a call with the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. US officials said the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the US on Wednesday requested the call with Lavrov.

American basketball star Brittney Griner testified Wednesday at her drug trial in Russia that a language interpreter provided during her questioning ...

After hours of proceedings she did not understand, she was allowed to hand over her personal belongings to a lawyer before being led away in handcuffs, Griner said. U.S. officials have not commented on the prospects for such a trade. She said she used a translation app on her phone to get the basic idea of what she was told. The judge denied the request but allowed her to speak while seated. Her arrest came at a time of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington ahead of Russia sending troops into Ukraine later that month. Griner has been held since mid-February after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage.

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, ...

At her trial Wednesday, Griner said she did not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her bag but explained she had a doctor's recommendation for it and had packed in haste. The two last met in person in Geneva in January to discuss what was then Russia's massive military build-up along Ukraine's border and Russian demands for NATO to reduce its presence in eastern Europe and permanently deny Ukraine membership. The U.S. government has long resisted prisoner swaps out of concern that it could encourage additional hostage-taking and promote false equivalency between a wrongfully detained American and a foreign national regarded as justly convicted. He and his family have vigorously asserted his innocence. He and his family have vigorously asserted his innocence. She said she was pulled aside at the airport after inspectors found the cartridges, but that a language interpreter translated only a fraction of what was said during her questioning and that officials instructed her to sign documents without providing an explanation.

Moscow is reportedly interested in trading Brittney Griner for Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout.

She also said she received neither an explanation of her rights nor access to a lawyer in the initial hours of her detention, and that she had to use a translation app on her phone to communicate. The arms dealer, dubbed the merchant of death, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in the US on charges he attempted to sell weapons to a Colombian rebel group to kill Americans. The Biden administration has made a "substantial offer" to bring two American detainees home from Russia, the US secretary of state has said.

Nearly three weeks after Brittney Griner entered a guilty plea in her drug smuggling case, the WNBA star shared her testimony amid an ongoing trial in a ...

During Griner's fourth hearing on July 15, her lawyers told the court that she had a prescription to take medical marijuana to treat a chronic injury. I was then told I have to be interrogated." The WNBA star said another worker "opened the cartridges" and "smelled them" before her passport was taken away. Six months of the year I am away from my family. "At that point it felt like I was being held against my will," she testified, per the outlet. As part of her ongoing trial, the WNBA star testified in a Russian court on July 27.

Griner says during arrest, translator did not explain documents she was asked to sign, or relay all her responses.

She emphasised that cannabis oil is widely used in the US for medicinal purposes and has fewer negative effects than some other painkillers Griner’s defence team has submitted a US doctor’s letter recommending the basketball player use medical cannabis to treat pain. Griner said officers removed vape cartridges from her luggage, and opened and sniffed their contents.

CNN reported Wednesday that the U.S. has offered a prisoner exchange in order to bring the WNBA player and Paul Whelan home. Biden reportedly backs such a ...

See the growing speaker list and buy tickets. As part of the deal, Russia would release Griner and Whelan in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trafficker imprisoned in the U.S., CNN reported. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Griner’s detention has been further complicated by U.S. efforts to support Ukraine as it fends off Russia’s continued invasion. Whelan has been held in Russia for espionage since 2018. A doctor had prescribed the cannabis oil to her for pain and inflammation from career-related injuries.

Forbes first reported in May the Biden Administration was in early talks to trade Griner—who has been detained in Russia since February—for Viktor Bout.

It’s believed Griner’s trial will have to conclude before a deal is finalized, according to CNN. In 2020, Whelan, a former security executive, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Russia on espionage charges, which he denies and the U.S. has said are false. Both Griner and Whelan’s families have pressed Biden to do whatever he can to release the U.S. citizens. She has pleaded guilty to the charges and her trial is ongoing. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Forbes reported in May that the Biden Administration had begun preliminary talks to trade Griner for Bout, who was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in 2011 and is known as the “Merchant of Death.” The Biden Administration offered to send convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout back to Russia in exchange for the release of U.S. citizens Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner, both of whom are detained in Russia, CNN reported Wednesday, following months of talks initially reported on by Forbes.

The Phoenix Mercury star faced the most crucial moment yet in her Moscow trial on drug charges Wednesday, giving evidence to a judge in a bid for leniency.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. She said she was prescribed the cannabis oil by a doctor, adding that many athletes used it. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. In any case, we will be glad if Brittney is soon at home and we hope that this will happen.” … I was in a huge hurry.” She was also recovering from covid-19 and needed to get tested before flying, she said, adding to the stress. They have hinted that Russia may consider a prisoner swap, but only after her trial is complete. Speaking to the court through an interpreter, she said that her rights were not read to her when she was taken into custody, which is required under Russian law. We asked the court to satisfy our motion because of her psychological state,” Blagovolina said. The judge gave Griner permission to give her testimony while sitting after she said that her neck hurt. In Russia, carrying even small amounts of the substance is illegal. Officials told her to sign documents but did not explain what they were or the consequences of signing them. The comments from Blinken will intensify speculation about a possible prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, nicknamed the “ Merchant of Death,” who is serving a 25-year sentence in Illinois for conspiring to kill U.S. nationals and selling weapons to terrorists.

The Biden administration has offered Russia a deal aimed at bringing home Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken ...

Others had argued that the incentive to kidnap Americans is already significant and the only sensible solution is to cut a deal to bring Griner and Whelan home. It would seem that a deal is not imminent if Blinken hasn't even had the conversation with Lavrov yet. But her testimony Wednesday was the first time she was critical of her treatment. But all along, the real timeline anyone has been concerned about is when the two countries can reach a deal that brings her home. Sources have said that Bill Richardson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who has been negotiating Griner's release, had hoped he could travel to Russia by now to try to wrap up a potential deal. In recent weeks, Russia has been critical of U.S. accusations that Griner was wrongfully detained, saying the U.S. needs to butt out and let Griner's trial run its course. She said she broke the law inadvertently. A few hours after Griner's court appearance, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the United States had made a "substantial proposition" weeks ago to secure the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, another American whom the government considers to be a wrongful detainee. Here's what we know and what we don't know. Some in the administration had argued that trading someone like Bout would create a dangerous precedent. She'll find out if it had any effect next week: Sources expect a verdict and sentence Aug. 5. First, Griner testified in court, telling the judge that when she was arrested Feb. 17 she was denied proper translation, wasn't read her rights, was denied access to a lawyer and was coerced by her interpreter into signing papers she couldn't understand.

The Biden administration has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, ...

That stance made Wednesday's announcement all the more startling, but Kirby said the administration had decided to make clear that a deal was on the table. The State Department said later that Russia's diplomacy was "Kabuki Theater'' -- all show and no substance. During her testimony, Griner said she still does not know how the cannabis oil ended up in her luggage but explained she had a doctor's recommendation for using it to address chronic pain from her sports injuries. The two last met in person in Geneva, Switzerland, in January to discuss what was then Russia's massive military buildup along Ukraine's border and Russian demands for NATO to reduce its presence in eastern Europe and permanently deny Ukraine membership. The U.S. government has long resisted prisoner swaps out of concern that it could encourage additional hostage-taking and promote false equivalency between a wrongfully detained American and a foreign national regarded as justly convicted. Their last publicly recognized contact was Feb. 22, when Blinken wrote to Lavrov to cancel a meeting they had planned as a last-ditch effort to avert the Russian invasion, saying Moscow had shown no interest in serious diplomacy on the matter. "We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," Blinken said. "There is utility to conveying clear, direct messages to the Russians on key priorities for us,'' including the release of Griner and Whelan, Blinken said. Russia has for years expressed interest in the release of Bout, a Russian arms dealer once labeled the "Merchant of Death,'' who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 on charges that he schemed to illegally sell millions of dollars in weapons. Should a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov take place, it would be the first conversation that he and Blinken have held since Feb. 15, about a week before Russia invaded Ukraine. U.S. officials said the desire for an answer on the prisoner offer was the primary, but not only, reason that the U.S. on Wednesday requested a new call with Lavrov. Griner, in Russian custody for the past five months after authorities there said they found her in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage, testified at her trial Wednesday that she had no criminal intent in bringing them into the country and packed in haste for her return to play in a Russian basketball league during the WNBA's offseason. Though it is unclear if the proposal will be enough for Russia to release the Americans, the public acknowledgment of the offer at a time when the U.S. has otherwise shunned Russia reflects the mounting pressure on the administration over Griner and Whelan and its determination to get them home.

The basketball star is detained in Russia, far from her teammates and loved ones. But there are signs she has held on to her fighting spirit.

Griner’s decision to use photos as a means of expression reveals a deeper message about the uncertainty of her future. A few weeks prior, she was photographed holding another picture of WNBA players wearing her No 42 jersey at this year’s WNBA All-Star game. When American cities were filled with protests in 2020 after the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, Griner used her fame to help bring attention to systemic issues that are often faced by marginalized communities.

Speculation intensified about a possible prisoner swap involving Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout after Secretary Blinken described a "substantial proposal."

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. Ryabkov hinted that there were avenues for discussions on a prisoner exchange, but he said this could not happen until the end of formal court proceedings. In the April swap for Reed, Biden outlined the hard choices that come with prisoner exchanges. “Our governments have communicated repeatedly and directly on that proposal,” he added. “There was a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release,” Blinken told reporters. “He did not call yesterday, and so we do not know what he knows. She is next due to appear in court on Aug. 2 and could face up to 10 years in jail. Whelan, 52, denies the espionage charges against him and says he was framed. Four Russian Kalibr missiles were fired at the port, the Ukrainian military said. Blinken said Wednesday that a proposal was made to the Kremlin “weeks ago” for the release of Griner and Whelan, although he did not specify its terms or whether there had been any response. RIGA, Latvia — Russia said Thursday that no concrete agreement has been reached in prisoner release negotiations with the United States, a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a “substantial proposal” was made to Moscow to free two jailed Americans: WNBA star Brittney Griner and security consultant Paul Whelan.

This week's trial proceedings in Russia over WNBA star Brittney Griner's detention have shed more light on the details of her arrest, including her ...

Griner also told the court she enjoyed playing basketball in Russia during the WNBA's offseason and that her club, UMMC Ekaterinburg, became a second home to her, Blagovolina said. In any case, we would be really happy if Brittney will be able to come home and hope it will be soon," they said. David Whelan, Paul's brother, said in a statement, "Our family appreciates the Biden Administration seeking Paul's release using the resources it has available. She emphasized that she never planned to bring it to Russia and use it," attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters after the hearing. I never wanted to hurt my team," Griner said. No attorney was present, Griner testified, and she said her rights were not explained to her, which, according to Russian law, should have occurred within three hours.

The Kremlin warned Thursday that a possible prisoner swap with the United States involving Brittney Griner needs to be negotiated quietly without fanfare.

Griner also said that besides the poor translation, she received no explanation of her rights or access to a lawyer during the initial hours of her detention. Griner's five months of detention have raised strong criticism among teammates and supporters in the United States, which has formally declared her to be "wrongfully detained" -- a designation sharply rejected by Russian officials. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of transporting drugs. "We know that such issues are discussed without any such release of information," Peskov told reporters during a conference call. Blinken's comments marked the first time the U.S. government publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure Griner's release. Griner's trial on drug charges started in a court outside Moscow this month, and she testified Wednesday that she didn't know how the cartridges ended up in her bag but that she had a doctor's recommendation to use cannabis to treat career-related pain.

Arms trafficker Viktor Bout reportedly in line for exchange with the WNBA star facing drug charges.

If successful, Whelan and Griner’s prisoner swap would mark the second high-profile exchange between the two adversaries this year. “We talked yesterday on the phone. Whelan has repeatedly denied the charges against him. Griner faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. “Now I think a trade is realistic because as far as I understand the Russian side has always been for a trade and in this case, it now appears to be the position of the American side.” Brittney Griner’s defence team have given the prospect of including the WNBA star in a prisoner swap a cautious welcome, as Russia said talks between Moscow and Washington on exchanging prisoners were “ongoing”.

The US has offered a deal to Russia aimed at bringing home WNBA star Brittney Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony ...

The two last met in person in Geneva in January to discuss what was then Russia’s massive military build-up along Ukraine’s border and Russian demands for NATO to reduce its presence in eastern Europe and permanently deny Ukraine membership. That stance made Wednesday’s announcement all the more startling, but Kirby said the administration had decided to make clear that a deal was on the table. Supporters of his release contend he was jailed after an overly aggressive US sting operation, and the judge who sentenced him told The Associated Press this month that she believed he had already served enough prison time. “There is utility to conveying clear, direct messages to the Russians on key priorities for us,” including the release of Griner and Whelan, he said. Blinken's comments marked the first time the US government has publicly revealed any concrete action it has taken to secure the release of Griner, who was arrested on drug-related charges at a Moscow airport in February and testified Wednesday at her trial. “We put a substantial proposal on the table weeks ago to facilitate their release," Blinken said.

Le trafiquant d'armes russe incarcéré aux États-Unis, Viktor Bout, et la basketteuse américaine Brittney Griner, détenue en Russie, ne sont pas informés de ...

Viktor Bout est un célèbre trafiquant d’armes russe, arrêté en Thaïlande en 2008 et qui purge une peine de 25 ans de prison aux États-Unis. Selon plusieurs médias américains, il s’agirait d’échanger M. Bout contre Brittney Griner et Paul Whelan, qui purge une peine de 16 ans de prison en Russie pour espionnage. (Moscou) Le trafiquant d’armes russe incarcéré aux États-Unis, Viktor Bout, et la basketteuse américaine Brittney Griner, détenue en Russie, ne sont pas informés de négociations en vue d’un éventuel échange de prisonniers russo-américain, ont indiqué leurs proches.

Le Kremlin a prévenu qu'un éventuel échange de prisonniers avec les États-Unis impliquant Brittney Griner devait être négocié discrètement.

Son arrestation est survenue dans un contexte de tensions accrues entre Moscou et Washington, avant que la Russie n'envoie des troupes en Ukraine le 24 février. Les cinq mois de détention de Griner ont suscité de vives critiques de la part de ses coéquipières et de ses supporteurs aux États-Unis, qui ont officiellement déclaré qu'elle était « détenue à tort », une désignation vivement rejetée par les responsables russes. Griner a également déclaré qu'outre la mauvaise traduction, elle n'a reçu aucune explication sur ses droits et n'a pas eu accès à un avocat pendant les premières heures de sa détention. Elle a déclaré avoir utilisé une application de traduction sur son téléphone pour communiquer avec un agent des douanes. Les commentaires de Mme Blinken ont marqué la première fois que le gouvernement américain a révélé publiquement toute action concrète qu'il a entreprise pour obtenir la libération de Griner. La double médaillée d'or olympique et joueuse du Mercury de Phoenix dans la WNBA a été arrêtée à l'aéroport de Moscou à la mi-février lorsque les inspecteurs ont trouvé dans ses bagages des cartouches de vapoteuse contenant de l'huile de cannabis. Dans une déclaration séparée, la porte-parole du ministère russe des Affaires étrangères, Maria Zakharova, a déclaré que des responsables russes et américains ont mené des négociations sur d'éventuels échanges de prisonniers et « qu'il n'y a pas encore eu de résultat concret ». Libération de Griner : Moscou veut négocier discrètementBasketball jeudi, 28 juil. Le secrétaire d'État américain Antony Blinken a déclaré mercredi que Washington avait proposé à la Russie un accord qui permettrait de ramener Griner et un autre Américain emprisonné, Paul Whelan. Une personne au fait du dossier a déclaré que le gouvernement américain avait proposé d'échanger le marchand d'armes russe condamné Viktor Bout contre Whelan et Griner.

Le président américain Joe Biden a visiblement entendu les appels à l'aide de Brittney Griner, et a imaginé un échange pour la rapatrier...

En tout cas, les spécialistes se montrent confiants quant à une résolution rapide de ce feuilleton suite à cette proposition du chef d’État américain : un célèbre marchand d’armes : Piégée dans un bourbier depuis cinq longs mois, il ne lui reste plus qu’une lueur d’espoir à laquelle se rattacher.

KHIMKI | La vedette américaine du basket féminin, Brittney Griner, a dit mercredi lors de son procès près de Moscou avoir par erreur apporté du cannabis ...

«Je ne comprends toujours pas comment ça a fini dans mon sac. Brittney Griner a également affirmé n’avoir pas suivi les recommandations des autorités américaines de ne pas se rendre en Russie à cette période, car elle ne souhaitait pas «laisser tomber» son équipe en Russie. La vedette américaine du basket féminin, Brittney Griner, a dit mercredi lors de son procès près de Moscou avoir par erreur apporté du cannabis médicinal en Russie et n’avoir jamais eu l’intention de faire de la contrebande de drogue.